Fading Masks

Cleo sat at the edge of the bed, quietly watching Dominic as he finally drifted off to sleep.

He'd forced himself to keep up appearances all this time, but now there was no disguising the weariness in his eyes.

Cleo fixed her gaze on him for a while, and then whispered, "I wish I could have the old Dominic back."

But no one was there to respond.

*****

Over at the hospital, Macon came to. Both his